A partner in the firm’s Global Regulatory Enforcement practice, Westrup joined the firm in 2017. She has over two decades experience advising a range of international companies on EU and German antitrust and competition matters, including some of the world’s largest digital platforms and industry leaders on investigations, competition litigation, compliance, distribution matters, on cartel as well as market-dominance cases.
Westrup also has significant experience in guiding clients through regulatory aspects of transactions, often in cross-border merger and acquisitions, to obtain merger clearance and deal with German foreign investment screening.
Splittgerber has also been with the firm since 2017 and is a partner in its Emerging Technologies Group. With nearly two decades experience, he specialises in IT law, data protection and privacy, cyber security, social media law and internet law (Germany and EU). He is passionate about technology and privacy and a thought-leader when it comes to legally evaluating new technologies, such as the internet of things and artificial intelligence.
Splittgerber’s clients include renowned US technology companies and providers of internet platforms as well as European technology companies.
Gregor Pryor, Reed Smith’s EME managing partner, said: “I am delighted that the combination of Andy and Michaela have agreed to lead our Munich office. They are both exceptionally talented, energetic lawyers with compelling leadership qualities. They thrive on providing excellent client service and are a super example to our next generation of talent in Munich. We are, of course, hugely grateful to their predecessor Daja Apetz-Dreier for her significant contributions during her long tenure at the firm.”
Westrup added: “The firm has recently made considerable investments to enhance our German offering, so it is an exciting time to be taking up the new role. Over the years, Andy and I have collaborated on many client matters and so we are highly attuned to getting the best from each other. Octávio has made a considerable impact in his time as Frankfurt office manging partner and I look forward to working more closely with him as we collectively implement the firm’s strategic growth plan in Germany.”
Splittgerber commented: “I am delighted to take up the new role with Michaela. We have worked together for many years now and I look forward to combining with her, and our Frankfurt office manging partner Octávio de Sousa, to drive the next stage of the firm’s development in Germany. We have very strong foundations to build on.”
In the last 12 months, Reed Smith has hired five senior lawyers in Germany, including: partner Nina Siewert in March, partner Dr. Oliver Hahnelt in September, partner Germar Enders in July, and partner Dr. Nikolaus von Jacobs and senior counsel Christian von Sydow in May.